Ito Lightford, 41, of Newark, had pleaded guilty to a murder charge in the Sept. 24, 2014 killing of Talia Capri Nesmith
NEWARK -- Patricia Wiggins said her granddaughter turned 3 years old on Jan. 18. Five days later, Wiggins said she adopted the girl on Friday.
Then on Tuesday, Wiggins stood in a Newark courtroom for the sentencing of the man who stabbed her daughter, Talia Capri Nesmith, to death in front of the child.
"My world and life has changed, because I have to raise my granddaughter," Wiggins said during Tuesday's hearing, before referring to her daughter: "I should be helping her raise her daughter with her, not without her."
Before Ito Lightford was sentenced to 30 years in state prison for the Sept. 24, 2014 killing, Nesmith's family members remembered her as a loving woman, an "angelic soul" and "the epitome of innocence."
The relatives also said they would miss Nesmith's smile.
"None of us will ever see her smiling again," said Nesmith's sister, Khaleedah Wright.
After the family members addressed the court, Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler told Lightford he hopes "you got a glimpse of the kind of tragedy that you caused this terrific family.
"I don't know if you have any real appreciation for what your conduct did, but you're going to have 30 years in which to think about it," Wigler later added.
The judge also noted how the case represents the first conviction for Lightford, who previously worked as a custodian for the Newark school district.
"There is no logical explanation for what you did," Wigler told Lightford, adding that the killing appeared to be "an isolated horrific incident."
Earlier in the hearing, Lightford declined to make a statement.
But his attorney, Anita Treasurer, told the judge that Lightford is "remorseful and he regrets his conduct."
"He understands what harm he has caused," Treasurer said.
Lightford, 41, of Newark, pleaded guilty on Dec. 22 to a murder charge in connection with Nesmith's stabbing death. Under a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to recommend the 30-year state prison sentence for Lightford.
Lightford must serve the entire prison term before he is eligible for parole, and he will receive credit for more than a year of time served.
Authorities have said Lightford lived in a basement apartment for two years in the Goldsmith Avenue home where Nesmith, 34, lived on the second floor. Nesmith lived in the apartment with her grandmother for more than a decade until her grandmother's death in January 2014.
In a statement to police, Lightford indicated he had become "obsessed with" Nesmith and "didn't want anyone else to have her, because she had rejected him," Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Bradley, who handled the case, said during Tuesday's hearing.
Bradley said the killing was "frightening" in light of how Lightford had led a law-abiding life.
"He killed her in front of the 18-month-old daughter, who hopefully has no memory of that," said Bradley, adding that the incident was a "horrific crime."
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.